Toy airplane



Oct. 22, 1935;. 5 A PETRQFSKE 2,018,415

TOY AIRPLANE Filed May 26, 1954 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Oct. 22, 1935. PETROFSKE 2,018,415

TOY AIRPLANE Filed May 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW may a Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 TOY AIRPLANE Burney A. Petrofske, Cudahy, Wis.

Application May 26, 1934, Serial No. 727.643

10 Claims.

This invention apparatus to miniature toy airplanes, and has for one of its primary objects the provision of means whereby model airplanes can be built and caused to perform various ma- 5. neuvers of a full-size airplane so that persons can readily learn the rudiments of flying.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a miniature or toy airplane having full flying controls in all directions so that persons, by setting and manipulating the controls and watching the flight of the toy, can obtain flying training therefrom and knowledge as to how to set the controls of a full-size airplane for flying. A further important object of my invention is 15V to provide novel means for associating the rudder,

an elevator, and wings with the body stick, whereby these parts can be set and adjusted to permit the airplane to carry out a desired maneuver.

A further object of my invention is to provide a miniature or toy airplane having the wings flexibly connected with the body stick, with means for flexing the wings at their terminals in opposite directions, so as to bring about the correct banking of the airplane in the desired'direction. A further salient object of my invention is to provide novel means for constructing the toy or miniature airplane, whereby the same can be shipped in knockdown condition for the conservation of space, the construction being such that 30, the parts can be quickly assembled by a person without the use of any tools, glue, etc.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved toy airplane of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in 35-, use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, ar-

0, rangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved airplane.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of my improved airplane in its set-up position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation on a larger scale, illustrating the means of associating 60: the propeller with the body stick.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the airplane taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows, illustrating the means for flexing the wings to obtain the N desired banking.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the airplane illustrating the novel means employed for flexing the wings.

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the airplane taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, look- 5 ing in the direction of the arrows. V

Figure 7 is a detailed transverse section through the airplane, taken on the line 'l-1 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the novel means for' setting the rudder and 10; elevator.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure '7, taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12 are detailed views 15; illustrating the various parts of the airplane, taken apart ready for shipping. 1

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate the corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates my improved airplane, which comprises a longitudinally extending main body stick 15, which corresponds to the fuselage of a full-size airplane. This body stick is formed from light-weight material. The forward end of the body stick l5 has anchored thereto a light Wire guide and a bearing eye It for the propeller shaft ll. This propeller shaft ll is also formed from light wire and has its forward end anchored to the propeller 18. The rear end of the propeller shaft is provided with a hook l9, for a purpose which will be later set forth.

It is to be noted that the wire 16, which forms the bearing eye, is provided with a right angular- 1y extending rear end 26, which extends through an opening formed in the body stick IS. A strengthening thread, (not shown), can be wound around the body stick at this point and over the wire.

Secured to the rear end of the body stick by 40. suitable adhesive are inner and outer short guide sticks 2| and 22, and these sticks are disposed in a vertical plane and are arranged in stepped relation-that is, the outer stick 22 is disposed slightly above the inner stick 2 l. The outer faces of the guide sticks 2i and 22 have secured thereto, by suitable adhesive, friction strips 23, and these friction strips may be considered as tire tape.

Extending transversely across the rear end of 5 -1 the stick I5 is a guide piece 24 for the vertical rudder 25. This guide piece 24 can be secured in place'by suitable adhesive, and is connected with the top edge of the body stick l5 and the front edge of the outer guide strip 22.

. material.

. carries a pin 27, and this pin 2'! is adapted to be seated in a socket 28 formed in the body stick [5 when the rudder is in its assembled position. A small rubber band 28 is employed for holding the pin 2'1 of the vertical rudder 25 in its socket 28, and the edge of the frame of the vertical rudder against the transversely extending guide piece 24.

When the device is in its knock-down condition the rudder is lifted so that the pin can be removed from its socket, and the rudder is then laid flat in a horizontal position.

By referring to the guide piece 24 it will be noted that the same can be provided with a cen- 'tral slot or notch 29, and left and righthand notches 3i! and 3|. Thus the frame of the rudder can either be set in any one of these three notches, and when the rudder is in the central notch 29 the same tends to. guide the airplane in a straight path, but when the rudder is set in the'side notches 3B or 3! therudder will tend to' guide the plane to the right or left, as the case may be.- The rubber band 28 functions to hold the rudder in the selected notch.

The horizontal elevator 23 has secured to the frame thereof a forwardly extending relatively wide adjusting piece 32, which is adapted to frictionally engage. the friction strips 23 of the guide pieces 2! and'22. A rubber band 33 is placed about the body stick l5, and the guide piecev 32,

and this rubber band acts to hold the guide piece 32 into frictional contact with the friction strips 23. Obviously the horizontal elevator 26 can be swung to the desired inclination by simply moving the piece 32 onthe friction strips, and the friction strips and rubber band 33 will'hold the elevator in its adjusted position. When the airplane is to be shipped, the guide piece '32 'is pulled rearwardly from out of the rubber band and placed within the length of the body stick so as to reduce the length of the plane.

Intermediate ends of the body stick I5 is the supporting wing structure 35, which forms an important part of the present invention. This wing structure 35 comprises an outer open frame 36 preferably formed from strips of bamboo, and this open frame is braced by transverse struts or spars also formed from bamboo. The frame is then covered with light-weight material 38, such as paper or linen.

This wing structure is secured atits transverse center to the lower surface of the body stick by suitable adhesive, and the Wing structure is preferably braced at this point by a relatively wide reenforcing strip 39 formed from light-weight Glued or otherwise secured to the ends of the brace strip 33,and the'frame pieces of the Wing structure 35 are reenforcing light-weight pieces 43 and 4 i, and these pieces also form frie tion-guides, as will be later set' forth. Glued or otherwise secured to the front brace and guide strip 'is across bar 42, the terminals of which extend beyond the braceand' guide strip 49, for a purpose which will be later set forth.

By referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, it

will be noted that the ends of the wing structure are flared upwardly, as at 43, and the entire structure of the wing is such that the same can be flexed to facilitate the banking of the airplane, as will also be more fully set forth. 5

To bring about the flexing of the Wing structure, I employ an adjusting piece or lever 44.

This adjusting piece or lever 44 embodies a longitudinally extending, vertically disposed strip of wood carrying a thin flat friction piece 46 at 10 its rear end. The piece 46 bears against the rear reenforcing and guide strip 4|, and the front 01' the adjusting piece or lever 44 bears against the front guide and reenforcing strip 40. A rubber band '41 is placed around the body stick [5, and 15 the adjustable piece or lever 44, and hence holds the ends of the lever in frictional contact with the pieces 40 and 4|. I

By swinging the adjusting piece or lever on the rubber band, and moving the opposite ends of 10 the piece 44 on opposite sides of the body strip IS, the wings can be flexed in opposite directions, and hence the wings can be distorted in the desired direction for bringing about the proper banking of the airplane.

Anchored to the body stick l5, directly in front of the vertical rudder 25, is an anchor pin 48 for the reception of the rear ends of rubber bands 49, which constitute the prime mover for the propeller l8. The front ends of the rubber bands 30 are placed over the hook l9 of the propeller shaft. Obviously, by turning the propeller with the fingers the rubber bands 49 can be wound up to the desired tension so that when the pro-. peller is released by the fingers the bands will 35 cause the rapid rotation thereof.

The bands 49 are freely removable from the anchor pin 48 and the hook l9, and the propeller itself can be removed from the body strip by M passing the hook through the guide-eye I6. 40'

The airplane can also be provided with a suitable landing gear, and this landing gear may comprise an inverted U-shaped yoke 50- formed from a strip of bamboo. The ends of the bamboo strip can carry landing wheels, or discs 5|. For- 4 5" is pushed, upwardly and rearwardly until the same is disengaged from the hook and the rubher band is removed from around the ends;- of the cross bar 42. This will permit the yoke to be swung parallel to the body-stick.

From the foregoing: description, it can be seen 66 7 that the airplane can be readily shipped in afiat condition, and that the various parts can be quickly assembled without the use of tools, glue, or the like. a Due to the adjustability of the vertical rudder 25, the horizontalelevator; 26, and ,the wing structure 35, the airplane can be caused to execute a number of different maneuvers, and the adjustability of the rudder, elevator, and wings corresponds to the controlof a regular airplane. 70

Hence, persons adjusting the controls of the toy airplane, and observing theflight thereof can learn how to operate the controls of a full-size airplane for obtainingcertainresults. H By correctly setting the controls the airplane can either fly straight ahead or be caused to make right turns, left turns, loops, etc.

I lay great stress on the simplicity of the structure, as bythis structure I am enabled to eliminate all complicated parts and obtain extreme lightness, with the assurance of ready manipulation of controls.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

l. A toy airplane comprising a longitudinally extending body strip, a flexible wing structure secured to the body strip, a propeller, means for rotating the propeller, a vertical rudder and a horizontal elevator carried by the rear end of the body stick, means for flexing the wing structure, to tilt the wing tips in opposite directions and means for adjusting the vertical rudder and the horizontal elevator.

2. A toy airplane comprising a longitudinally extending body strip, a flexible wing structure permanently secured to the body stick, means for distorting the flexible wing structure transversely and longitudinally a detachable vertical rudder and horizontal elevator for the body stick, a detachable propeller for the body stick, and a detachable landing gear for the body stick.

3. An airplane comprising a longitudinally extending body stick, a wing structure secured to the body stick, a propeller carried by the body stick, means for rotating the propeller, an adjustable rudder carried by the body stick, an adjustable horizontal elevator, a forwardly extending guide piece carried by the elevator, friction strips secured to the body stick, and resilient means detachably holding the forwardly extending guide piece in engagement with the friction strips.

4. In a toy airplane, a body stick, vertically extending spaced friction strips carried by the rear end of the body stick, an elevator, a forwardly extending flat guide piece carried by the elevator, and resilient means arranged between the friction strips for normally holding the forwardly extending guide piece in adjustable contact therewith.

5. In a toy airplane, a body stick, spaced vertically extending friction strips carried by the rear end of the body stick, a detachable elevator for the body stick including a forwardly extending flat guide piece for adjustable contact with the friction strips, and a rubber band encircling the body stick and the flat guide piece intermediate the friction strips for holding said flat guide piece in frictional contact with said friction strips.

6. In a toy airplane, a body stick having a socket therein, a vertical rudder having a pin detachably received in said socket, a transversely extending guide piece secured to the body stick in rear of the socket, and resilient means normally holding the vertical rudder in engagement with the guide piece and the pin in the socket, the rudder being shiftable over the guide piece with the pin acting as a pivot.

'7. In a toy airplane, a body stick, a flexible wing structure secured to the body stick, and shiftable resilient means for engaging the wing structure on opposite sides of the body stick to flex said wing structure transversely and longitudinally.

8. In a toy airplane, a body stick, a flexible wing structure secured to the body stick, reenforcing and guide pieces extending transversely of the body stick and secured to the wing structure, an adjusting member extending longitudinally of the body stick engaging the reenforcing and guide pieces, and resilient means engaging the adjusting member intermediate its ends for normally holding the ends thereof in engagement with the reenforcing and guide pieces, said adjusting member being shiftable over said guide pieces.

9. In a toy airplane, a body stick, a flexible wing structure secured to the body stick, reenforcing guide pieces secured to the wing structure extending transversely of the body stick and beyond the opposite sides thereof, an adjusting member movable over the reenforcing guide pieces, and a rubber band extending around the adjusting piece and the body stick for holding the adjusting member in engagement with the reenforcing guide pieces.

10. In a toy airplane, a body stick, a wing structure carried by the body stick, a hook secured to the body stick above the wing structure, a landing gear including an inverted U-shaped yoke .having its upper end received in the hook, and a rubber band engaging the yoke and normally holding the yoke in the hook and against the wing structure.

BURNEY A. PETROFSKE. 

